Passivation of stainless steel is the non-electric process of removing free iron from the surface of a part using a chemical solution as described in ASTM A967-01, AMS 2700, and QQ-P-35. Passivation is used to prevent the corrosion of stainless steel; this chemical process adds an oxide layer that protects it against outside reactions to air.
High Performance Metal Finishing has a strict protocol when it comes to our quality control processes and we follow the ASTM A380-99 standard for pre-treating prior to Passivation.
We remove all oils, darts, impurities, weld scale, mill scale, and heat discoloration to insure a good Passivation of the surface.
We immerse the stainless steel into an acid bath that dissolves the free iron from the surface. Upon exposure to air, the stainless steel forms the chromic layer. It takes 8 to 24 hours for all types of stainless steel to oxidize.
We rinse the parts with DI water and dry them. Following this, we perform a passivity test to ensure the quality of the stainless steel following the passivation.
Parts are then moved to our state-of-the-art clean room to finish the drying process.
Passivation is used to prevent the corrosion of stainless steel because although it is naturally corrosion-resistant, it is not impervious to rust. This process improves the quality of the metal by fortifying it and preserving the appearance.
Passivation is highly beneficial to the fact that it removes free iron, creates a passive oxide layer preventing further oxidation, and cleans the part.
We provide Passivation for a wide array of industries, including:
